Jim Reed

It was with great sadness last night we heard of the passing of our friend Jim Reed. Gino called us with the news. This was so sudden and unexpected . Jim had traveled back to their Texas home and was found in bed. We don't know exactly what happened but will post when we know more. Our deepest sympathy and condolences to Gino. We love you Gino.

We'll miss you Jim and your barbeques, smiling face and knowledge of all things Home Depot! RIP

Thunder clouds approaching!

I can't believe it has been so long since I blogged! Well, the parking lot opposite is finished but nobody has been allowed to park on it so far! Doesn't look too bad. Our computer went down so we are the proud owners of a nice new shiny black model.

Yesterday we had thunder and lightening, quiet dramatic. It poured with rain nearly all day.

Sadly today, we say 'goodbye' to our dear friend Dick who has been with us for 7 days. He's off back home to San Francisco. The three of us went for lunch yesterday at LULU, downtown in the old Muriel's. A HUGE menu, they are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Very ambitious of them and we hope it works out. It had a great quota of fags and will definitely be on our list of recommendations. The 'red hat society' were there for lunch enjoying themselves as usual. For those who don't know, the 'red hats society is a group of women who go out for tea (or lunch, or dinner) for themselves, not for charity but to have FUN! I think the minimum age is 50 but I might be wrong on that. Anyhoo, check out the poem, "When I grow old I shall wear purple, and a red hat".......... then you'll know what they are about.

Goodbye to Dick, but hello Friday to Jim and Terry, also from San Francisco and also in for 7 days. Welcome back!!!!

I have just finished reading "Secret Historian" By Justin Spring. The life and times of Samuel Steward, professor, tattoo artist and sexual renegrade. How very interesting and we have a lot to thank Steward and his contemporaries for the life we now have. Please read it (ignore the footnotes, they drove me crazy), reflect and be thankful.

Weather back to normal.

Here we are, weather back to normal. The humidity has gone and we are now at a respectable 12% and the temperature a comfortable 103f (39.4c). Pool is a perfect 89 and looks very inviting! Clear blue skies, not a breath of wind. Oh to be in Palm Springs now that summer is here!

Re previous blog .... we made a telephone complaint about inappropriate use of our Knox Box and guess what? Couldn't care less. As our dear friend DG said .... does having a key to a Knox box give them the right to enter any business at any time without permission?????  We will be bringing  this up with our elected representatives.

What do you think?

We had a Palm Springs police car parked in our parking lot last night for at least a couple of hours. Parked horizontally and looking up towards Indian Canyon watching (it transpired) a car parked on the side of the road. (No doubt our local drug ring).

Stuart and I were getting ready to eat dinner when suddenly, as if from nowhere, there was a police woman standing on our deck. We were a little suprised to say the least and scrambled to find clothes! She wanted to use the 'restroom'! "How did you get in" asked Stuart. "Oh, you have a Knox box so I used the key" she replied. A knox box is a secure locked box attatched to the outside wall containing a key to our front gate for use in emergencies which the fire department insisted we have.

Well, here's the thing. What constitutes an emergency? I don't think that wanting to have a pee negates the usual politeness of asking before coming on to our property. Even the fire department on their annual inspection call from the gate and ask to be let in. We don't want to make a fuss or get onto the wrong side of the law, but really, how would you feel if a police officer suddenly 'appeared' without ringing your doorbell first?

It's a dry heat, right???

WRONG!!! This morning at 6am we had a humidty level of 60% which is extremely unusal. It dropped to 30% by 8am but is back up to 42% at 11am. I'm so pleased we bought a barometer!

The forcast for today is a high of 107f (41.6c) It certainly feels like it might get up there. Currently (11am), 97f (36.1c) We're not complaining, we are just glad we're not on the east coast. Misters are working and the pool is inviting!

Nearly forgot!!!

I meant to say, we finally got the gardeners in to chop down the trees which were overhanging the walkway outside 9 and 10. What a difference! We can see the sky and the trees are no longer banging onto our roofline or getting stuck in the wind underneath the eaves! Well done, Alex and your 'gang!'.

It's going to be a hot one!!!!

Heat advisory warning have been issued for this weekend for San Bernadino and Riverside counties with temperatures expected to be up to 10f (12.2c) degrees warmer than usual. Bring it on!! This morning at 7.30 we were already at 84f (28.8c).
I just put the misters on at 11.30am and we are at 94f (34.4c). More later ..... we love it.

Well, how disappointing, by 4 pm it only got up to 102f  (38.8c). Mind you, that was ITS (In The Shade) with the misting system at full bore. Ho Hum, tomorrow is another day!!!!